Patient sleep therapy self management tool

Abstract

A tool for use in conjunction with a pressure support system that is structured to provide therapy to a patient to treat a condition of the patient by delivering a flow of breathing gas to the patient. The tool may be implemented on a portable electronic device or a PC and is configured to, among other things, provide customized / personalized education and feedback to the patient based, at least in part, on data that is measured by the pressure support system during the provision of therapy to the patient. The tool utilizes certain patient / therapy metrics, wherein each patient / therapy metric comprises raw data that was measured by the pressure support system and that has been processed (e.g., summarized and / or otherwise manipulated) to form the patient / therapy metric.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to systems for treating conditions, such as sleep disordered breathing, using positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy, and in particular to a tool configured to, among other things, provide customized / personalized education and feedback to the patient relating to their therapy.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Many individuals suffer from disordered breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is a common example of such sleep disordered breathing suffered by millions of people throughout the world. One type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which is a condition in which sleep is repeatedly interrupted by an inability to breathe due to an obstruction of the airway; typically the upper airway or pharyngeal area. Obstruction of the airway is generally believed to be due, at least in part, to a general relaxation of the muscles which stabilize the upper airway segment, thereby ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a method and device for providing information to a patient who uses a pressure support system to treat a condition of the patient. The device includes a computing device with a display and processor apparatus, which receives information about the pressure support system and the data measured by it during therapy. The device then displays the information on the screen, which can include information about the components of the system, the data connection method, and solutions to problems related to the system. The method and device allow for improved information delivery to patients using pressure support systems.

Problems solved by technology

Those afflicted with sleep apnea experience sleep fragmentation and complete or nearly complete cessation of ventilation intermittently during sleep with potentially severe degrees of oxyhemoglobin desaturation.

Sleep apnea sufferers may be at risk for excessive mortality from these factors as well as by an elevated risk for accidents while driving and / or operating potentially dangerous equipment.

Even if a patient does not suffer from a complete or nearly complete obstruction of the airway, it is also known that adverse effects, such as arousals from sleep, can occur where there is only a partial obstruction of the airway.

Partial obstruction of the airway typically results in shallow breathing referred to as a hypopnea.

Images